Method of employing electrostatic means in a heat shrinking process

ABSTRACT

1,058,805. Wrapping. W. R. GRACE &amp; CO. May 5, 1965 [May 6. 1964], No. 19020/65. Heading B8C. Electrostatic forces apply a dielectric film about an article, or hold the film on the article while it is heat-shrunk. The article may be a container 14 (Fig. 2) with a flange 15 gripped by the film 16 as in Fig. 3 (not shown) when the film has been heat-shrunk. The electrostatic field is set up between electrodes 18, 24, the latter being pointed electrodes which may be mounted within hot air ducts providing the heat for shrinking the film. The container 14 itself may form one of the electrodes. The wrapping material may be in the form of netting or filaments or may be oriented sheet, or a laminate. The electrode 18 may be coated with friction-reducing material, and may be smooth or of reticular form. The electrode 18 may be of metal, wood or paper pulp, it may form part of the final package, or it may form part of a conveyer carrying the container 14 or, as in Fig. 1 (not shown), an article (2) to be wrapped. The article to be covered may alternatively be mounted between horizontally spaced electrodes.

Sept. 20, 1966 K. G. ANDERSON ETAL 3,274,302

METHOD OF EMPLOYING ELECTROSTATIC MEANS IN AHEAT SHRINKING PROCESS Filed May 6, 1964 ness.

United States Patent 3 274,302 METHOD OF EMPIlOYING ELECTROSTATIC MEANS IN A HEAT SHRINKING PROCESS Kelvin G. Anderson, Greer, and Ivan F. Churchill, Greenville, S.C., assignors to W. R. Grace & Co., Duncan,

S.C., a corporation of Connecticut Filed May 6, 1964, Ser. No. 365,272 6 Claims. (Cl. 264-22) This invention relates to the securing of dielectric materials to an object. In one aspect, the invention relates to restraining the movement of thermoplastic film in contact with an object. In another aspect, the invention relates to the heat shrinking of a thermoplastic film.

It is well known to wrap or otherwise encompass objects in a wrapping film for the purpose of protecting the object from damage or contamination. One of the most useful types of wrapping materials is organic thermoplastic sheet or film. However, a problem with these materials is that they are difficult to transport or convey through automatic wrapping equipment due to their flimsi- No satisfactory solution has been found for the problem of holding this thin film in position while being transported through the wrapping machines. Consequently, frequent wrinkling occurs resulting'in a high number of rejected products, costly shut-downs or unsightly packages. A still further difliculty arises when these films are placed over objects which are then subjected to heat to cause heat shrinking of the film around the object. One specific use for this type of application is the formation of a shrink cover for containers having a lip. Again a difficulty is in the positioning of film over the container and holding the film during shrinking to control the shrinking, particularly when it is desired to film-like member.

It is another object of the invention to provide a method and apparatus for preparing a cover for a container.

These and other objects of the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following "disclosure, claims, and drawings.

These and other objects of the invention are broadly accomplished by the use of electrostatic force to restrain movement of a dielectric material placed on an object.

It has now been found that when an object is placed between electrodes chargeable to opposite polarities and a flexible dielectric material, such as anorganic thermoplastic film, is placed over the object with the peripheral portions extending beyond the periphery of said object, that the application of a potential across the electrodes results in the electrostatic charging of the film to a polar- 'ity opposite that of one of the electrodes to which the peripheral portions of the film is thereby attracted. If the object is placed on a support which is also an electrode,

then the film will be attracted to the support and will position the film on the object.

In another embodiment of the invention, the electrostatically restrained film is then subjected to sufiicient heat to shrink the film with the shrink energy of the film overcoming the restraining force of the electrostatic charge.

Suitable apparatus for carrying out the invention includes a pair of spaced electrodes, means for applying a potential across said electrodes and means for heating the space between or around said electrodes.

It has also been found that by adjusting the electrostatic force that the temperature required to shrink the film can be increased to a temperature above that normally required for a heat shrinking application, especially when the film is in direct and intimate contact with the electrode.

FIGURE 1 is a schematic illustration of one embodiment of an invention illusrtating the holding a film in place over an object.

FIGURE 2 is a schematic illustration of a second embodiment illustrating the formation of a shrink cover around a container.

FIGURE 3 is a schematic illustration showing the film after it has been heat shrunk to form a cover.

The invention is useful for virtually any dielectric material, including but not limited to, organic thermoplastic polymeric films, sheets, netting, filaments, and the like made of polyolefins such as polyethylene, polypropylene, and the like, vinyl-chloride copolymers, polyamides including nylon and the like. The term polymer as employed herein includes homopolymers, copolymers, terpolymers, block copolymers, laminates of films and the like. The invention is useful for any structural shape so long as the material is a relatively thin flexible electrically non-conductive member which may be depressed by the electrostatic force. The thickness of the material can vary depending on the potential employed, for example, from /2 mil to 10 mils. Preferably, the dielectric material is a biaxially oriented polyolefin or polyvinyl (e.g. polyethylene, polypropylene or polyvinyl chloride) film or sheet /2 to 5 mils in thickness. The dielectric material may be unoriented, monodirectionally or bidirectionally oriented but, of course, will be oriented if it is to be shrunk. The material may also be irradiated such as shown in the patents to Baird, US. 3,022,543, and Rainer et al., US. 2,877,500, incorporated herein by reference.

The object to be enclosed, covered, or wrapped with the dielectric material can be any shape. A preferred shape or structure, particularly for heat shrinking operations, is one that provides for a lip, rim, edge or other projection on the upper surface which will permit the shrinking film to removably lock around said lip, etc. A particularly useful object is a container having an orifice in the upper portion thereof and a lip or rim defining said orifice.

The invention is best described with reference to the drawings.

FIGURE 1 is a schematic illustration representing the employment of the invention for holding a film onto a surface of an object. For example, if the film is to be held onto an object passing through equipment subjected to air currents or the like, the object 2 may be placed onto support 4 which may also double as a grounded electrode. Preferably, this support comprises a substantially fiat electrically conductive plate connected to a direct current high-voltage power source 6 which is also connected to a second pointed electrode 8. The electrodes are connected by suitable means to the power source so as to be of opposite polarity. Preferably a high value resistor 10 is connected in series with the electrode 8 to limit current drawn to the electrodes and to prevent arcing across the gap between the electrodes. The drawing illustrates the employment of two pointed electrodes; however, the exact number of the electrodes is not critical so long as a uniform electrostatic force field is generated. Selection of electrodes and their shape is within the skill of the art. Preferably, the charging electrode has a projection on it, such as a pointed electrode. The lower electrode 4, especially the surface thereof, may if desired be coated with a thin coat of a friction-reducing material such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polytetrafiuoroethylene or the like. The electrode 4 is preferably a smooth fiat surface or may be a reticular plate but in all age of the film about the container.

cases it must be comprised of a conductive material such as metal, wood, paper pulp or the like. The film 12 is placed on the supported object 2 and then subjected to the force field 9 thereby becoming charged to a polarity opposite that of electrode 4 which is grounded. The invention has been shown in perhaps its most useful form, that is with the object resting on an electrode support, which may also be a conveyor, so that the film is drawn downwardly toward a support; however, it is also within the scope of the invention to turn the entire operation up side down or in any other position so long as suitable means are provided for supporting the object between the spaced electrodes. The film is now in position to be subjected to any type of operation which requires the film .to be held over the object.

The potential to be established between electrodes 4 and 8 may suitably be in the range from about 1 to about 200, preferably from to 50 kilovolts with a current limiting resistor from 2 to 500 megohms. between the electrodes is not particularly critical and can be varied depending upon the voltage applied and the mode of electrode inter-connecting. The polarity is not critical so long as the electrostatic forces created by the opposing electrodes charge the surface of the film 12 so as to attract the film in such a manner as to enclose the product. For example, this invention could be used for restraining the film over an object between vertically spaced electrodes if the object is suitably supported.

FIGURE 2 is a schematic illustration of another embodiment of the invention whereby the electrostatic forces restrain movement of the film while the film is subjected 'to heat shrinking forces sufficient to shrink the film about the object. The object, which in this case is best illustrated by a container 14 having a lip 15 with a film 16 trode support. Again, the plate electrode 18 is connected to a suitable high voltage direct current power source 20 which is connected through a resistor 22 with a pointed .electrode 24. The operation of the electrical system is essentially the same as that described forFIGURE 1 so as to provide a force field 25, except that the system is simultaneously subjected to heat sufficient to cause shrink- Since the electrostatic force causes attraction of the film 16 to the electrode support 18, there is a pressure exerted by the charge which causes the film to resist shrink forces and to shrink in a controlled manner. Heat may be applied by any suitable means such as radiant heaters or by direct hot gases such as hot air as shown in FIGURE 2. This heat may be applied to any portion of the film by the use of a directing conduit or indirectly by means of a heat shrinking tunnel where the hot air is fed into the tunnel so as to not disturb the film position by its kinetic energy.

This invention is particularly useful when it is required to pull the plastic film around an object to form a tape or lock thereby causing the film to remain intpl-ace even when additional heat energy is applied to other areas of V the plastic.

. applying electrostatic pressure simultaneously can be used to heat the film beyond the temperature where shrink would normally occur if suflicient electrostatic pressure is exerted.

The selection of the proper temperatures is well within The spacing the skill of the art and' depends on the type of film and its orientation. I I

The invention is best illustrated by the following example: A 12 inch length of insulated tubing was con- 5 nected to a hot air nozzle which was in communication with a hot air blower capable of supplying enough hot air to shrink irradiated biaxially oriented polyethylene film prepared by the method described in the patent application to Baird et al. U.S. 3,022,543. In the center of the circular end of the tube furtherest from the supply of the hot air was mounted a sharp pointed metal wire in such a way that the hot air would blow toward and around the point. This pointed wire or electrode was connected to a high voltage DC. power supply (polarity not important) with an output adjustable from zero to 60 kv. at 1 ma.

A 500 megohm resistor was inserted in series with the lead to the electrode to prevent danger from electrical shock and also to prevent arcing.

A metal plate slightly larger than the inch by 10 inch film was connected to ground. This plate also acted as a support for the object to be wrapped and for'the sheet of irradiated biaxially oriented polyethylene film which was draped over the object.

A number of trays of a variety of shapes, some being electrical conductors and others being made from insulating material, were obtained.

Blocks of wood were inserted into the trays to simulate a product. The hot air nozzle containing the electrode was held from 2 inches to 10 inches above the tray which had been draped with film and moved in a circular motion around the tray. A voltage of approximately 40 kv. was applied to the electrode.

The electrostatic pressure caused the film to adhere to the metal plate, however, the shrink energy of the film was suflicient, in this case, to cause the film to slip on the plate and drag inwardly around the base of the tray. Since the trays were fitted with a lip around the circumference, the film was caused to mechanically look around this lip.

While certain examples, structures, composition and process steps have been described for purposes of illustration, the invention is not limited to these. vVariation and modification within the scope of the disclosure and the claims can readily be effected by those skilled in the art.

We claim:

1. A method for heat shrinking a dielectric thermoplastic heat shrinkable material about an object comprismg:

(a) placing said support,

(b) placing said material over at least a portion of said object, the peripheral portions of said material extending beyond the periphery of said object,

(o) electrostatically charging said material sufiicient to attract the peripheral portions of said material toward said support and restrain movement of said materi-al and,

(d) heating at least a portion of said mate-rial to heat 60 shrinking temperatures sufiicient for the shrink energy of the film to over-come the restraining force of the electrostatic change and to shrink the material about at least a portion of the object.

2. A method for heat shrinking .a dielectric heat shrink- 65 able thermoplastic film about an object comprising:

(a) placing said object between spaced upper and lower electrodes chargeable toopposite polarities, said lower electrode providing support for said object,

(-b) placing said tfilm over at least a portion of the upper portion of said object, the peripheral portions of said object on an electrically chargeable film extending beyond the periphery of said upper portion of said object sufiicient to contact the lower electrode when depressed,

. v (c) electrostaticallycharging said film and said lower electrode to opposite polarities sufiicient to attract the peripheral portion of said film toward said lower electrode thereby restraining movement of said peripheral portions relative to said object and,

(d) heating at least a portion of said film extending beyond the container to a temperature suflicient for the shrink energy of the film to overcome the restraining force of the electrostatic charge and thus shrink the film about said object.

3. A method for aflixing a cover to a container having a lip portion defining an orifice in an upper portion of said container comprising:

(a) placing said container between spaced upper and lower electrodes chargeable to opposite polarities, said lower electrode providing support for said object, said orifice being on the upper electrode side of said container,

(b) placing a heat shrinkable thermoplastic film having substantially the shape of said lip but extending beyond the periphery of said lip portion for a distance suflicient to contact the lower electrode when depressed,

(0) applying an electrical potential between said electrodes thereby electrostatically charging said film to a polarity opposite that of the lower electrode support and attracting the peripheral portion of said film to said support thereby restraining movement of said peripheral portions relative to said object and (d) simultaneously heating said film extending beyond said lip portion to heat shrinking temperatures sulficient for the shrink energy of the film to overcome the restraining force of the electrostatic charge, said film shrinking around said lip thereby removably loo ing said film around said orifice to form a cover.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the temperature required to shrink the film about the lip is above that required to shrink the film in the absence of the electrostatic force.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein said potential is in the range of 5 to 50 kv.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein said heat is applied by directing hot air onto the surface of said film.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,068,528 12/ 1962 Owens 264-22 3,115,785 12/ 1963' Harrison 5-3184 3,133,387 7/ 1964 Harrison 264'342 3,134,210 5/1964 Dreyfus 53-30 3,186,141 6/1965 Zimmerman 53-4 84 3,187,478 6/ 1965 Kirpatriok 53-30 25 ROBERT F. WHITE, Primary Examiner.

R. B. MOFFITT, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A METHOD FOR HEAT SHRINKING A DIELECTRIC THERMOPLASTIC HEAT SHRINKABLE MATERIAL ABOUT AN OBJECT COMPRISING: (A) PLACING SAID OBJECT ON AN ELECTRICALLY CHARGEABLE SUPPORT, (B) PLACING SAID MATERIAL OVER AT LEAST A PORTION OF SAID OBJECT, THE PERIPHERAL PORTINS OF SAID MATERIAL EXTENDING BEYOND THE PERIPHERY OF SAID OBJECT, (C) ELECTROSTATICALLY CHARGING SAID MATERIAL SUFFICIENT TO ATTRACT THE PERIPHERAL PORTIONS OF SAID MATERIAL TOWARD SAID SUPPORT AND RESTRAIN MOVEMENT OF SAID MATERIAL AND, (D) HEATING AT LEAST A PORTION OF SAID MATERIAL TO HEAT SHRINKING TEMPERATURES SUFFICIENT FOR THE SHRINK ENERGY OF THE FILM TO COVERCOME THE RESTRAINING FOCE OF THE ELECTROSTATIC CHARGE AND TO SHRINK THE MATERIAL ABOUT AT LEAST A PORTION OF THE OBJECT. 